STOBBART ALL FIRED UP FOR ‘MASSIVE’ CUP SEMI-FINAL
TWR BIFOLDS WEARSIDE LEAGUE: SILKSWORTH CW READY FOR BIGGEST GAME OF THE SEASON AT LEAM
Silksworth CW boss Andrew Stobbart is relishing the club’s biggest game of the season tomorrow.
But it will be a tough task away to Leam Rangers in the semi-final of the TWR Shipowners Charity Cup (2pm kick-off ).
Stobbart said: “This will be a massive game which both sides will be preparing well for.
“The squad looks sharp and focused in training this week and we hope to take the positive performances in recent weeks, plus the work in training sessions into this game.
“We know Leam will be in confident mood and are in good form, so we will be in for a tough encounter.
“We are confident the players selected on the day will be well up for this one.”
Team wise, Silksworth CW miss forward Nathan Renton, who is on holiday, but they have two strikers returning – Paul Muir from a lengthy suspension and Stephen Moody after work commitments.
Late fitness tests may be required by David Stevens and Dan Thompson. Leam have a semi-final for the third successive week, with a win and a defeat in the last two.
In the league, Sunderland West End welcome lowly Coxhoe Athletic to Ford Quarry (2pm) and are hot favourites to secure all three points.
Joint West End manager Anth Nelson said: “Danny Martin is looking to start at right-back and James Cassidy hopes to return after being cup-tied.
“Anthony Ross returns from injury and Graeme Pickering is looking to play in goal after some great performances in previous weeks.”
Nelson added: “We’ve had two wins against Coxhoe already this season, but they always give us a good game. “These are the types of matches we need to win if we’re to stay in contention for promotion.”
Coxhoe secretary Paul Charlton said: “Jack Elcoat comes into play in goal. Philip Best and Callum Savage are both unavailable and our two new signings, Carl Brown and Raymond Wilson, will be coming into the squad.
“It’s a tough game against one of the top sides in the league. We’re trying to rebuild our squad after the last manager left, but we have a lot of young players.
“We’ll just go to Sunderland West End and do our best. Anything we can get on Saturday will be a bonus.”
Fourth-top Boldon CA are at home to Hartlepool and are hoping the weather holds, so players can gain some muchneeded match fitness.
Boldon bossPaul Mossa said: “There is only so much you can do on the training pitch. Our keeper, Alan Greenan, is out with an ankle injury, after slipping on snow.”
Mossa is trying to bring in a replacement in time for the game, while centre-back Jonny Gage is available to play, after been missing for work commitments last weekend.
Pool have Matty Gardner and Danny Maddison missing again – they expect to have the same squad that won at Darlington Reserves last week.
Central defender Craig Garthwaite has re-joined the club after spells at West Auckland, Darlington Reserves and Horden.
Harton and Westoe CW host Annfield Plain, with top scorer Dan Sirrell facing a late fitness test to establish whether he has recovered from a groin tweak.
Chris Foster misses out after picking up an ankle injury in last week’s defeat at Stokesley. Andy Hill and Brodie Simpson are still sidelined, but manager David Crumbie can welcome back Ricky Brown and Harley Davison.
Crumbie said: “I was disappointed following the Stokesley game, as we had more than enough chances to win three games, never mind one. I am hoping the squad will show their character this week and bounce back in style.”
South Shields Reserves visit Richmond Town.
At the top, second-top Cleator Moor Celtic host Stokesley SC, while thirdplaced Redcar Athletic welcome Windscale.